Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy

About

Our People

List of 19 members.

Dr. David Graham

Principal

480-727-8550

Bio
DJ Graham is the head of school and principal of the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, a middle and high school for highly and profoundly gifted learners. He has more than decade of experience in the field of gifted education, teaching and developing curriculum. DJ provides insights, experience, and guidance as a speaker at state and national education conferences, focusing on the social-emotional and academic needs of gifted adolescents and integrating pop culture into curriculum. He obtained Master’s degrees in Gifted Education Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Administration from Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University respectively. DJ earned his doctorate at Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Elizabeth Mendoza

Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator

602-543-3419

Bio
Liz Mendoza serves as Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator. She is passionate about developing programs where students are able to learn, create, and explore and where teachers are themselves lifelong learners. She has extensive experience in both public and private schools, especially working with gifted and high ability learners. Liz earned her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies from Arizona State University; her thesis focused on the intersections of giftedness, gender, and race in young adult novels. Additionally, she is a National Board Certified Teacher. She received her doctorate in leadership and innovation from ASU.
Ms. Jeanne Corbett

Bio
Jeanne Corbett has been an educator for 33 years. She worked as a gifted teacher and then as the Director of Learning of a full-time gifted magnet program in Miami, Florida for thirteen years where she was responsible for teacher training and admissions. Ms. Corbett was honored with the "Teacher of the Year" award during this time. Ms. Corbett also worked at a college preparatory school in Tallahassee, Florida with a student body of 1,100 students, Pre-K through twelfth grade. She worked as a classroom teacher and teacher trainer before becoming the Director of Distance Learning for all grades. In addition, she was in charge of coaching education students from Florida State University (FSU), Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU), Flagler College, and Tallahassee Community College during their internships. While working on her Master's degree in school psychology, Jeanne Corbett recognized the importance of providing gifted students the opportunities they need to address their intellectual capacity. Ms. Corbett Has two grown sons and enjoys spending her time hiking, reading, traveling, and spending time with family.
Mrs. Kathleen Leech

Director of Operations

602-543-2874

Bio
Mrs. Leech is the Director of Operations at Herberger Young Scholars Academy and looks forward to strengthening and expanding the bonds between HYSA and ASU. She has been with HYSA since 2010 having returned to HYSA after a two-year adventure living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and traveling throughout the Middle East. Kathy looks forward to contributing to the international flavor of the school in Her role. She graduated from ASU's Barrett, The Honors College with a degree in sociology in 2020. Kathy cherishes spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and watching offbeat sci-fi movies.
Mrs. Melina Mylan

Counselor

602-543-6451

Bio
As HYSA's counselor, Melina Mylan is passionate about helping students feel supported, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential. With a background in Secondary English Education and over a decade of classroom experience, she brings a unique dual perspective as both an educator and a counselor, blending academic insight with a deep commitment to student well-being. She holds a master’s degree in School Counseling and is a National Board Certified Counselor through the NBCC. Melina is dedicated to guiding students through challenges, fostering resilience, and celebrating their successes both in and out of the classroom. Outside of school, she cherishes time with her family, enjoys exploring new experiences, and embraces opportunities to discover the world’s many perspectives.
Ms. Mindy Kauppinen

Bio
Mindy Kauppinen is an Administrative Associate with the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy (HYSA). She supports administration, operations, and admissions efforts at HYSA, is a member of the admissions team, and is a resource for parents, students, and staff. Prior to shifting focus to the business of education, Mindy worked for 15 years in marketing communications in New York and San Francisco, where she devised strategic communications plans and managed account teams for clients including Disney, LeapFrog, La Prairie, and Crystal Geyser. She also worked with early-stage start-up companies, taking them from the angel stage to IPO, and wrote a regular column and feature stories for Popular Home Automation magazine. Mindy attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a minor in marketing. Outside of school, Mindy enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and dogs. She loves the ocean and spends as much time as possible snorkeling, diving, and beachcombing.
Mrs. Sheryl Shelley

602-543-8274

Bio
Sheryl Shelley is the Administrative Associate at the Herberger Young Scholars Academy. Mrs. Shelley has over twenty years of experience working for K-12 schools and she has held many classified positions from teacher's assistant to principal's administrative secretary. Mrs. Shelley has a Bachelors in Communication from Ottawa University and earned a Masters in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Arizona. Mrs. Shelley has worked at ASU for eleven years. She has previously worked in the Disability Resource Center as an administrative assistant before coming to the Herberger Young Scholars Academy.
When not at work or studying, Mrs. Shelley loves to read, watch reality TV, play video games, and spend time with family and friends.
Mr. Mathew Mullowney

Athletic Director

602-543-2876
Mr. Joshua Mendoza

Makerspace Coordinator

602-543-6422
Mr. Reymundo Basaldua

Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy - ASU

Fiscal and Business Operations Director

(480) 965-2884

Bio
Raymond is the Fiscal & Business Operations Director of the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy at Arizona State University. Raymond joined Arizona State University in 2004 and supported the establishment and operations of the Herberger Young Scholars Academy since its founding.
Mr. Casey Warmbrand

Instructor

602-543-2872

Bio
Casey Warmbrand is an Instructor at the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy at Arizona State University West Campus. He is a mathematician, with a BS in discrete mathematics from Georgia Tech and an MS (ABD) in Mathematics from the University of Arizona. He has done research in Network Theory, Asymptotic Analysis, and Game Theory, has over 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience at all levels from middle school through graduate school. Casey has also designed, developed, and authored standards aligned mathematical content, as well as filmed video lessons for blended learning products.
Academically, Casey’s interests span the fields of mathematical modeling, theoretical computer science (algorithms & machine learning), systems engineering (optimization & efficiency), business (analysis & applications), game theory (design & strategic analysis). He has adopted a growth mindset into his teaching philosophy and strives to help all of his students do the same on a daily basis. With a family full of educators on the ELA side, he has learned to utilize the power of language when teaching mathematics. Casey is excited to work with the students at the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy. Outside of school, Casey can usually be found at home with his wife and their dog and son. Aside from being a lifelong learner, his hobbies include pickleball, games of strategy, and card games.
Dr. Ross Tucker Ph.D.

Instructor

602-543-2872
Mrs. Megin Nadirsha

Instructor

602-543-2872
Mr. Tracy Ellis

Instructor

(602) 496 - 5738

Bio
Tracy Ellis teaches History and Social Sciences at the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, where he is in his fourth year designing rigorous, project-based Cambridge curriculum for highly and profoundly gifted learners. He brings a rare blend of experience as a middle school Science and History teacher, an adjunct instructor in retail management at Rio Salado College, and over 20 years in business leadership and workforce training, including serving as a Senior Field Trainer at Fry’s.
Tracy holds master's degrees in management and education, has completed doctoral studies (ABD) in Organizational Leadership, and earned his teacher certification through Arizona State University. Drawing on both his classroom and corporate backgrounds, he helps students connect their learning to real-world contexts, develop their unique strengths, and grow as confident, ethical leaders ready to make an impact.
Mrs. Jessica Vining

Theatre Director & Instructor

(602) 496 - 5438
Dr. Rebekah West Keur

Bio
Dr. Rebekah West Keur is a seasoned educator and gifted education expert with a wealth of experience spanning K-12 and higher education. Currently, she serves as an academic associate at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and a gifted instructional professional at the Gary H. Herberger Young Scholars Academy. Dr. Keur is an accomplished teacher leader in gifted education, elementary, middle school, high school, and college education with an emphasis on humanities, gifted education, and professional development. She has been working in the field of gifted education for the past fifteen years in elementary school through college programs in Title I, suburban, national, and international settings, including working with the Johns Hopkins CTY program and DDC for gifted youth. Rebekah has presented at the Arizona Association of Gifted and Talented (AAGT), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), and SENG conferences. She has a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation with a focus on gifted educational leadership, where her doctoral dissertation was on Increasing Equity in Gifted Programming: A Multi-Faceted Approach to Closing the Opportunity Gap.
Ms. Kenisha Manley

Bio
Kenisha Manley is teaching AS Biology, IGSCE Chemistry, and two electives: Virtual Reality and Yearbook. With a strong commitment to student success, she looks forward to supporting learners in achieving both their academic and personal goals. Kenisha grew up in the West Valley and later attended Northern Arizona University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She recently completed a Master of Education in Learning Design and Technologies at Arizona State University. Her academic background spans the life sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics, providing a solid foundation for teaching across a variety of disciplines. Her professional experience includes teaching middle school chemistry, general science courses in adult education, and serving in administrative support and advising roles in both K–12 and higher education. In addition to her work at HYSA, Kenisha is a substitute instructor for Rio Salado College Downtown, where she teaches general science education. Kenisha resides in North Phoenix with her two cats, Moon and Olive. In her personal time, she enjoys cooking multicultural recipes, reading and watching science fiction, and traveling internationally. She has participated in academic experiences abroad, including a summer program in Japan during her undergraduate studies and a STEM teaching program in Costa Rica.
Caitlin Mullowney

Bio
Caitlin Mullowney is a life-long academic. She's spent the last decade teaching gifted and honors students. She loves to write and enjoys exploring the creative ways in which students approach problems. She earned Master’s degrees in Curriculum & Instruction from WGU, Library and Information Sciences from U of A, and English from ASU. Caitlin is thrilled to work with the HYSA family!
Mrs. Connie Vlachos

List of 0 members.

The Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy seeks and accepts students for admission without reference to race, color, religion, age, disability, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender. Admissions and financial aid decisions are made independently.

4825 W. University Way N.
Glendale, AZ 85306
Phone: 602-543-8274
Fax: 602-543-6164